Alyssa Thomas has never been one to follow trends she creates them. The perennial WNBA MVP candidate and cornerstone of the Phoenix Mercury made headlines again this week as she became the second player to officially sign with Project B, a revolutionary six-team international women’s basketball league set to launch in November 2026.
Her announcement sent a ripple through the basketball world, not only for what it means for her career but for what it represents for the future of women’s sports. Thomas joins fellow WNBA icon Nneka Ogwumike, who became the first player to sign with the league earlier this year. Together, they bring legitimacy, visibility, and competitive fire to a project that promises to reshape the global basketball landscape.
A Star Steps Onto a New Stage
Thomas revealed the news in a heartfelt post across her social media platforms, stating she was “looking forward to joining Project B.” For fans who have followed her relentless drive and leadership, the move makes perfect sense. After guiding the Phoenix Mercury to the 2025 WNBA Finals and cementing her place as one of the most dominant and consistent players in the league, Thomas now turns her attention to the next frontier global competition.
Project B, envisioned as an elite international 5×5 league, will feature seven two-week tournaments hosted in major cities across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. The structure allows athletes to compete at the highest level during the WNBA offseason while expanding the sport’s global reach.
The league’s leadership team featuring former WNBA great Alana Beard as Chief Basketball Officer has promised not only elite play but also unprecedented opportunities for athletes, including annual salaries reportedly exceeding $2 million and equity stakes in the league. For context, those numbers dwarf current WNBA salaries, making Project B one of the most player empowering ventures in modern sports.
A Power Shift in the Women’s Game
By signing Thomas, Project B has made a powerful statement about its intentions. Together, Thomas and Ogwumike bring resumes that define excellence: a WNBA MVP, a championship, multiple Finals appearances, 12 All-WNBA selections, 16 All-Star nods, and 14 All-Defensive honors between them. Their commitment instantly transforms Project B from concept to contender in the competitive world of professional basketball.
Alana Beard praised Thomas’s signing with the kind of admiration shared by nearly everyone in the league. “Alyssa is the kind of player and person you build around,” Beard said. “Her leadership, competitiveness, and professionalism elevate everyone around her. She represents the new era of player partnership and global competition that Project B stands for.”
Beard’s words capture what makes Thomas such a monumental addition her impact goes far beyond stats. She embodies consistency, resilience, and authenticity, the very traits that Project B wants to model for its future athletes.
Why Project B Is Turning Heads
For decades, WNBA players have sought competitive opportunities overseas during the offseason to supplement income and stay sharp. From Russia and Turkey to China and Spain, international play has long been a part of the professional calendar. But Project B aims to modernize that model offering elite pay, global visibility, and player ownership in a stable, transparent environment.
Its format is designed for spectacle and accessibility. Short, high-intensity tournaments will create concentrated excitement and allow fans from around the world to engage with their favorite stars without long travel schedules or fragmented seasons. The league will also integrate digital storytelling and brand partnerships to amplify its athletes’ global profiles something Thomas and Ogwumike both excel at.
Alyssa Thomas Chooses Her Own Path
Thomas’s decision to sign with Project B instead of Unrivaled, the U.S.-based 3×3 offseason league co-founded by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, speaks volumes about where she sees her future. While Unrivaled represents an important domestic movement for player autonomy and innovation, Project B’s global reach and higher financial incentives may offer something Thomas couldn’t turn down.
For a player who has spent her career battling through injuries, defying odds, and setting new standards, the appeal of shaping a league from its inception is undeniable. It’s also symbolic a veteran choosing not just to play but to help build a new ecosystem where athletes have real ownership and influence.
With Project B offering both competitive play and financial security, Thomas’s decision could inspire a wave of future signings. The league’s structure ensures that WNBA athletes can participate without schedule conflicts, allowing stars to pursue both domestic and international glory while maintaining year-round visibility.
A Defining Moment for Women’s Sports
Women’s basketball stands at a turning point. With record-breaking viewership, booming attendance, and a new generation of global fans, leagues are finally responding to the demand for more opportunities. Project B represents more than another professional outlet it’s a bold experiment in how women’s sports can operate when athletes are treated as partners rather than employees.
Thomas’s move signals that the balance of power is shifting. No longer confined to a single system, players are using their influence to redefine what success and sustainability look like. Her signing, paired with Ogwumike’s earlier commitment, positions Project B as a credible, well funded alternative that challenges the traditional hierarchy of women’s basketball.
The Road Ahead
As the countdown to November 2026 begins, anticipation around Project B continues to grow. The league plans to announce additional signings and host cities in the coming months, with expectations of showcasing international stars alongside WNBA talent.
For Thomas, the journey represents another chapter in a career defined by leadership and legacy. After years of dominating in the WNBA, she now has the opportunity to extend her influence on a global stage one that promises to elevate both her career and the visibility of the sport she’s helped define.
Her decision is not just a personal milestone but a symbolic step forward for women’s basketball. It marks the emergence of a new model one built on empowerment, equity, and global vision.
Conclusion: A New Era Begins
Alyssa Thomas’s signing with Project B is more than a headline; it’s a declaration that women’s basketball is ready to expand its borders. Together with Nneka Ogwumike, she has laid the foundation for a league that dares to dream bigger one that prioritizes athletes, invests in their futures, and brings the game to a truly international audience.
If Project B succeeds, it will not only change where the best women in basketball play, but how the world sees them. And with leaders like Thomas at the forefront, that revolution has already begun.
